How much are taxes and fees??

[GoneWest]

Was browsing the Virgin Atlantic web-site, as I am prone to do (to see the latest total of air miles) - when I came across their magical phrase of..

Fares do not include government taxes, fees and charges of approximately $95 per passenger, including a September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 for each segment.

Curious to note that the charge never changes - despite the change in exchange rates (and it's a UK Company)....but what confuses me is "What are these taxes and fees"?

They specify a $2.50 each segment ($5 return) for "9/11" - so that leaves $90........somewhere between £60 and £70 sterling.

Anybody know what these taxes and charges are??

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi GoneWest,


Approximate figures;


£20 UK Airport Departure Tax ( Straight to the government-not to the airport).This is for economy. Business/First passengers pay £40
£8-£9 UK PSC (Passenger Service Charge)-This goes to the Airport Operator
£5 Security/Insurance Charge
Remainder of around £30 US airport taxes/charges fees.

This willl result in charges on UK tickets of around £64-£65 for economy tickets and £84-85 for business/premium econom/first classs.

Regards
TBS

[PAXboy]

By the way GoneWest - don't ask what you get for your money!

Neither the Airports nor the govt. will tell you.

[strix uralensis]

virgin atlantic, lhr-lax-lhr, economy class:

GBP 20.00GB uk air passenger duty
GBP 2.50YQ virgin atlantic insurance fee, outbound
GBP 3.20YC us customs user fee
GBP 8.50US us international transportation tax, arrival
GBP 8.40UB uk passenger service charge, heathrow
GBP 8.50US us international transportation tax, departure
GBP 2.00XA us animal&plant health inspection serv.user fee
GBP 4.50XY us immigration user fee
GBP 2.50YQ virgin atlantic insurance fee, inbound
GBP 1.60AY us civil aviation security service fee
GBP 1.90XF passenger facility charge, lax apt
TOTAL
GBP 63.60

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi,

Thanks very much, strix uralensis, for that detailed breakdown.


Regards

TBS

[MarkD]

Try flying in Canada - internally.

Taxes take your breath away.

Michael O'Leary would burst a blood vessel

[knobbygb]

Thanks Strix, thats the first time I've seen a *complete* breakdown of all the taxes!
Anywhere (website?) where I can get this information for other journeys or do you just need to be 'in the know'?

[strix uralensis]

knobbygb,
i´m afraid you won´t find any detailed information in the net. i work as an airfares specialist in a travel agency using computerized reservation system called amadeus as my main tool, so i guess i´m just better equipped in these questions.
s.

[Mike773]

If you're lucky enough to still get a paper ticket, the taxes/fees will be detailed underneath the FARE box.

The amount will be followed by a code (e.g. GB is the UK government departure tax).

If there are more taxes than can fit in the boxes (3 IIRC on standard IATA paper), then there will be an XT tax which is actually a sum of multiple taxes. If there is an XT line, the breakdown will be shown in the FARE CALC section.

And I'm sure you don't want to know how to read that part!